Due to its ease of cultivation and attractive floral displays, it is often grown as an ornamental potted plant. Disocactus flagelliformis), the rattail cactus, is a species of flowering plant in the cactus family Cactaceae, and is the most cultivated species in the genus Aporocactus. Disocactus flagelliformis ( L.) BarthlottĪporocactus flagelliformis (syn.Aporocactus leptophis (DC.) Britton & Rose.After a month or two you should have a new rat tail cactus plant. Keep the soil medium moist by spraying with water every two or three days, or when the surface of the soil is dry to the touch. Make sure to wear gloves and protective glasses during the process. Allow the cut to dry out for two or three days before potting it in a small container. Then, select a lengthy stem and cut off about a specimen that’s 3 to 5 inches long. Disinfect with rubbing alcohol first to prevent plant infections with the wound. The only equipment you need to propagate rat tail is a pair of scissors or small garden shears. Stem cutting is a common way to get more plants to add to your interior or exterior landscape, or for giving to friends. Propagating a rat tail cactus is easy and only requires a few steps. You can also use a moisture meter or something similar to gauge hydration levels. Moist soil means you can wait several more days before you reach for the watering can. To do this, just tap the surface of the soil with your finger to determine if it needs watering or not. They’re also naturally drought tolerant and can survive with just rainfall.Įarly on, you’ll want to give your rat tail regular watering and just enough to keep the soil moist but not overly wet. Less water is more for these species since they are very good at storing moisture in their stems and leaves. Watering a rat tail cactus is the same as watering your other succulent plants. Rat tail cactus can be grown in a normal potting or garden soil mix, but you will have to adjust your watering schedule. A premade succulent or cactus mix that contains perlite or vermiculite is best so you can prevent root rot and other fungi-related problems. The plant can grow in cracks, crevices, and places that don’t have a lot of soil content.Īs a plant or garden specimen, it’s best to give your rat tail cactus a loose and freely-draining medium that has a lot of gravel and sand. You may be surprised to know that Rat Tail grows in the unlikeliest places in the wild, but it’s true. It’s recommended that you overwinter, or bring your rat tail indoors when the weather is getting cold. As a houseplant, you’ll want to place your rat tail cactus in a south-facing window.Īvoid exposing your cactus to frost and freezing temperature and you get to see it thrive next year. This gives you several options on where you can grow your rat tail- outdoors and where it can get direct sun throughout the day, or indoors, where it gets bright light. The succulent thrives in USDA regions 9 to 11 and a dry desert climate. Rat Tail Cactus is native to Mexico and thus likes to receive full sun when possible. Give your rat tail cactus an optimal environment and it will thrive for years to come. The more important aspects of caring for a rat tail are done early on, such as when you’re choosing the site and soil where the plant will be grown. Other than getting adequate lighting, the succulent doesn’t need that much attention from you. That said, caring for a rat tail succulent is fairly easy because these plants can adapt to a wide range of environments.Īporocactus flagelliformis is an easy-going plant with very few requirements. Most gardeners tend to place their rat tail cactus in potted containers for hanging, or indoors as a point of interest in their homes. If you’re lucky enough you’ll be able to witness large, orchid-like blooms that are normally bright pink or red violet, and sometimes orange in late spring to early summer. Rat tail cactus foliage color starts out as dark green but tends to turn beige or light yellow as they age. The texture is similar to a rodent’s appendage as well, with spikes forming a dense, ropey pattern to further bring the ‘rat’s tail’ point home. The succulent’s stems tend to be a bit floppy and can sometimes hang down at the edge of their pot or container. The Aporocactus flagelliformis got its nickname ‘rat tail’ because of its rat-like stems that can grow up to 4 feet (or 48 inches) in length. How to Propagate a Rat Tail Cactus Rat Tail Cactus | Aporocactus flagelliformis
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